Cube-shaped SnZr3 nanoparticles synthesis and their photocatalytic potential as a fuel additive and dye degradation

The hydrothermal method was used to prepare the cube-shaped bimetallic tin-zirconium (SnZr3) nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to examine the crystallographic properties and morphology of the SnZr3 nanoparticles. Acid Green 25 (AG 25) was employed as a model dye to find out SnZr3 catalytic efficacy. For the specified dye, various factors influencing the degradation rate, such as catalyst dosage, H2O2 concentration, and temperature, were investigated. At H2O2 0.3 M, catalyst dosage 0.05 mg/mL, and temperature 315 K, the SnZr3 nanoparticles removed AG-25 (96%) in 30 min of irradiation. The data showed that the removal of dye followed a pseudo-first-order kinetics model. According to thermodynamic analysis, the degradation process was endothermic. Furthermore, SnZr3 nanoparticles were used as a fuel additive to evaluate the modified fuel's combustion and physical properties. The efficiency of the altered fuel was determined by examining the fuel performance at various SnZr3 dosages. Finally, the SnZr3 catalyst's recovery and reusability were investigated.